Control apparatus



March 2, 1954 F. A. GREENAWALT 2,671,136

CONTROL APPARATUS Filed June 4, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l 25 5a I 1: I 55\ I 91 I I l 31-- f g 2 9 i i 90 2%.JI1 44 I IN V EN TOR. EDER ICK A. GR EENAwA LT AT TOR N??? CONTROL APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .1

Filed June 4, 1952 Patented Mar. 2, 1954 CONTROL APPARATUS Frederick A. 'Greenawalt, Columbus, Ohio, as-

signor to Rance Incorporated, Columbus, Ohio,

2. corporation-:01 Ohio Application June 4, 1952, Serial No. 291,165

13 Claims.

The present invention relates to control appas and more particularly to apparatus for controlling two electric circuits sequentially, such as the circuits for the heating means of a domestic type clothes drier and the motor for driving the blower and clothes tumbling basket thereof.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of a control apparatus comprising two individually operable switch members which may be moved to one control position, as by a manual control member, and then sequentially moved to thereof so that the actuation of one of the switch members to its second control position can be made to occur at different selected points in the movement of the reciprocable part of the power device without affecting the point in the movement of the reciprocable part in the opposite direction at which the other switch member is actuated to its second control position.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a control apparatus having two spaced to be held in one control position by an element engaging therewith, which element is actuated to swing about one pivotal axis and move from holding engagement with one control member while remaining. in holding engagement with the other member and subsequently actuated to swing about a second pivotal axis to move fromv holding engagement with'the last mentioned control member.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a control apparatus of the character referred to comprising two switch members norxmally biased toward one control position and adapted to be held in second control positions by a pivotally supported latching element engaging abutment surfaces thereon, the support structure for the latching element being movable by a power device, such as an expansible thermally responsive element, in a plane to move the element from engagement. with the abutment surfaces of the switch. members, means being. provided to prevent the movement of the latch element from disengaging the abutment surface of one of the switch members when the pivotal support is moved in one direction, thereby causing a portion of the element to be swung from engagement with the "abutment surface of the other switch member and release the latter for movement to the control position to which it is biased, and means to prevent movement of the disengage-d portion of the latched element during a subsequent movement of the pivotal support and thereby cause the element to be swung from engagement with the abutment surface of the first mentioned switch member and release the latter for movement to the control position to which it is biased.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a control apparatus of the character referred to which may consist of relatively few parts easily manufactured and assembled, and which is accurate and reliable in operation.

Further objects and advantages of the invent'ion will be apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, reference being made to the accompanying drawings wherein,

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a control apparatus for a domestic type electrical clothes drier, the view being taken substantially along line |-l of'F'ig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 2-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig, 3 is a sectional view taken on line .3--3 0f Fig- 1;

Fig. 4 .is a fragmentary view showing certain parts of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, but in different positions;

Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8 are sectional views taken substantially along line 5-5 of Fig. 1, but on a smaller scale, showing certain parts of the control apparatus in different positions.

Although the invention is not necessarily restricted to control apparatus for domestic electrically operated clothes d-riers, it is here shown embodied in such an apparatus and is actuated by a manual control member to simultaneously energize the electrical heating element and the motor for driving the blower or fan and clothes tumbler and is operative to open the heater circuit to discontinue the heating cycle when a predetermined high temperature, indicative of a relatively dry condition of the clothes .in the drier, is attained after which. the motor circuit is deenergized when the air temperature within the drier reaches a predetermined temperature at which the clothes may be handled without discomfort of heat and which temperature is somewhat lower than that at which the heater circuit is opened.

Referring now to the drawings, the control apparatus shown comprises a suitable housing It which may be formed of one or more sheet metal stampings, for example. The top wall of the housing, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2, preferably has a mounting bracket H attached thereto by which the apparatus may be secured to the wall W of the cabinet of the clothes drier, as by bolts and nuts. The wall W has an opening through which the manual controls for the apparatus extend, as is described more fully hereinafter.

The bottom wall of the housing it comprises a plate which may be of any suitable dielectric material such as Bakelite, attached to the housing by suitable means, not shown. The plate I! has two pairs of electrical switch members I9, and 2!, 22 supported thereon, and in the form shown, the switch which are attached at one end to inverted U- shaped terminal brackets 2Q, 25, 26, 21 respectively, which are rigidly secured in the plate i1 and which have terminal lugs 3d, El, 32, 33, respectively, plate. Preferably, the terminal lugs have threaded extruded openings to receive terminal screws, not shown, for securing wires thereto.

' The opposite ends of the leaf spring switch members lQ-ZZ carry suitable electrical contact members 3t, 35, 35, 3? respectively, and the contacts 3Q, 35, and 36, 31 respectively, are arranged to engage one another when the springs iii, 20 are deflected downwardly, as illustrated in Fig. i. The springs i9-22 are to the position shown in Fig. 2 andthe springs 2G and 22 are limited in their upward movement by rigid strips 33, only one of which appears in the drawings, which are attached to the terminal brackets 25, 2?, respectively.

The switching mechanism just described controls the circuits for the heating element H of the clothes drier and a motor M which drives the tumbler and blower, not shown. The circuit for the heater may be traced from Ll, which forms one side of a conventional three wire 220 v. current supply, to terminal 313 through leaf spring 19, contacts as, 35, leaf spring 20, terminal 3!, heater H, terminal 33, leaf spring 22, contacts 3?, 36,

leaf spring 2|, terminal 32110 the other side of the circuit to line L3. The circuit for motor M may be traced from the intermediate line L2, motor M, terminal'td, leaf spring 22, contacts 3?, 33, leaf spring'tl, terminal 32 to L3. By this arrangement the heater H is supplied with 220 v. and the motor'M 110 v. It will be noted that both sides of the heater circuit are broken when contacts 3%, 35 and 3t, 31 are separated.

The leaf springs l9, 2! are adapted to be defiected to close the contacts 34, 36 on contacts 35,

members comprise leaf springs which project downwardly through the normally biased upwardly 31 respectively, by a lever 4t pivoted at 4| to a side wall of the housing It. The lever at is preferably formedof a channel shape sheet metal stamping having two dielectric members it, 43

attached to opposite side flanges thereof by lugs M and adapted to engage the springs l9, 2: respectively when the lever is moved downwardly. The lever id is urged in its raised position shown in Fig. l by a tension spring 45 attached at one end to an eye 47 struck up from the lever and at the other end to a recessed strip 33 formed in the side wall of the housing it. The lever id is adapted to be depressed to deflect the leaf springs,

l9, 2! by a plunger fifl'which is arranged to move as viewed in Fig; 1. the lever 82 is limited by a cam 86, the hub 81 7 T of which is journaled in a bushing 88 secured longitudinally in a central opening 5| through an adjusting knob 52 supported on the housing if] in a manner described hereinafter. The plunger 50 has a cylindrical member 53 thereon which cooperates with the walls of opening 5| to form a guide for reciprocation of the plunger. The outer end of the plunger is threaded and receives an internally threaded push button 55 which reciprocates in an enlarged outer portion of the opening 5!. It will be seen that by pressing the push button 55 inwardly the lever 40 is depressed which causes the members 42, 43 to deflect the leaf spring members i9, 2| downwardly and engage contacts 34, 36, with contacts 35, 3! respectively.

The leaf springs), 2i are adapted to be locked in their deflected, contact closing positions by a dielectric latch member or element 69 which is pivotally supported on a vertically extending pin 6! the ends of which are supported in openings in two spaced parallel extending lugs 53, SA on a lever 65. The lever 65 is preferably a sheet metal stamping having two upwardly extending arms 61, $8 at opposite sides thereof which are pivotally supported by a pin '10 which extends through openings in the arms and which pin is in turn supported in an inverted U-shaped bracket l2 having-the yoke thereof welded to the top wall t2 and member W, as may be seen in Fig. 2. The latching member 8b, which is formed of a rigid .strip of insulating material is normally urged clockwise about the pin 5! by a torsion spring '56 surrounding the pinand having one end extending in an opening through the latch member and having the opposite end reacting against a part of the lever 55.

The leaf springs l9, 2! have upwardly projecting bosses or posts l8, 19, respectively, the outer or top surfaces of which preferably lie in a plane normal to and transversely of the axis of the bosses. When the leaf springs l9, 2| are in their upper positions, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2, the upper surfaces of the bosses l3, 19 are above the lower surface of the latch member 56, and when leaf springs are deflected by operation of the plunger 56 to close the contacts 34, 35 and 36, 31 the top surfaces of the bosses l8, 19 are moved below the bottom surface of the latch member which is then rotated clockwise, as viewed in Figs. 5 to 8; by spring it into registration with the top surfaces of the bosses and thereby prevents upward movement of the switch members 19, 2i to maintain the contacts closed, as seen in Figs. 4 and 5.

The clockwise rotation of the latch 60 into registration with bosses l8, 19 is limited by an arm 8! which depends from a lever 82 having side flanges 83, 85 which are provided with openings to pivotally receive the pin Ill. The lever arm 3! has one end of a tension spring85 attached thereto and the other end of the spring is attached to a side wall of the housing to continually urge the lever 82 clockwise about pin in, This clockwise rotation of in an opening through the bracket 12 and the top wall of the housing IE5. The cam hub 31 has an axial opening through which the plunger 56 freely extends and the upper end thereof has a key member attached thereto which hasupwardly projecting springfingers which fricamuse the end of a. bolt 96 threaded in an opening through the lever '02. The member 95 has a ridged! formed therein which engages the periphery of the cam 86 and provides a cam following surface which may be shifted relative to the lever 82 by threading the bolt 96 one direction orthe other in the lever. Thus the member 95 and bolt 96 provide an adjustment be- L tween the lever 82 and the cam by which the angle of the lever may be closely determined with respect to any given position at which the cammay be set for purposes of calibration, as is explained more fully hereinafter.

65 which carries the latch member 60 is normally urged clockwise about the pin 7-0, as viewed in Fig. 1, by a tension spring I having .one end thereof attached in an eye I M struck up from the lever 65 posite end attached to a side wall of the housing 1.0. The lever 65 is adapted to be urged counterclockwise against the spring I00 by a suitable .expansible. thermally responsive device I05, which device includes the-.-rounded head .of a bolt 10.1 which is threaded in an opening through the lever 65 and locked in position by a nut I08.

The thermally responsive element I may be of any suitable construction, but in its preferred form is similar to that disclosed in the patent application of Estel C. Raney, Serial No. 269,075, filed January 30, 1952. Suflice to say, the plunger I 0.6 is adapted to reciprocate in a cylinder .0

, liquid contained within a capillary tube I having one end closed and coiled in a suitable form and located so as to be responsive to the temperature of air immediately after it has passed over the clothes in the tumbler of the. clothes drier. The tube III is connected with the interior of a rubber hat shape member 112 also containing liquid and adapted to bear against the plunger I01. As the temperature at the outer end of tube III rises, the plunger I06 moves outwardly to swing the lever 85 counterclockwise, as viewed in Fig. 1, and upon a decrease in temperature the plunger I06 is moved inwardly due to contraction of the liquid in the tube and the action of the tension spring I00. It will be seen that the bolt I01 provides means for changing the effective length of the plunger I-Ofi relative to the lever so that the lever may be set at a predetermined angular position corresponding to a predetermined temperature at the outer end of the tube III.

When the leaf springs I9, 2| are deflected by the plunger 50. and retained in their circuit closing positions by the latch member 65, which position is shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the heater H and the motor M are energized and the clothes ierv is in operation. As is well known in the art, while. the clothes are relatively wet, the temperature of the air passing therefrom is relativeiy low and :as the clothes approach a dry and having the op- J a. plunger I05 engaging according to the changes in tem- 4:

. Figs. 6 and 7,

condition, the temperature of the air rises which, as explained previously, causes the plunger I06 to move the lever 65 counterclockwise, swinging the pin SI and the latch 60 to the right, as viewed in Fig. 5. This movement causes the end of the latch member 60 adjacent to the boss I9 .on the switch, member M to pivot about the arm 8| of the lever 82, since this arm is held immovable by the cam 88. The latch member 50, pivoting about the arm =8l, also rotates counterclockwise with respect to the pin 6! which causes the portion of the latch member engaged by the boss 18 to bemoved out of registration therewith, as shown in Fig. 6, and release the leaf spring I9 which snaps upwardly .to quickly separate contacts 34, 35,, and break the heater circuit.

The motor M continues to operate and the temperature of the clothes in the tumbling basket is relatively rapidly reduced which causes the liquid in the tube I l I to contract and the plunger Ill-8 accordingly moves to the left, as viewedin Fig. 1,, permitting the spring I00 to draw the lever 55 clockwise thereby moving the pin GI and latch member 50 to the left, as viewed in at which time the latch member engages the side of the boss I8 which causes the latch member to pivot thereabout and to rotate counterclockwise with respect to the pin BI and move the latch member from registration with the boss I9 to release the leaf spring 2| which quickly snaps upwardly and separates contacts 3%, 31 and opens the motor circuit to terminate the clothes drying cycle.

In initially adjusting the control apparatus, preferably at the time of the manufacture thereof, the parts of the apparatus are set as shown in Fig. 6 and the bolt I0] is then adjusted so that the latch member 60 is caused to release the boss 79 during a drop in temperature and at the temperature which is desired for the cut-off point of the motor M. For example, the cutout temperature may be F. or thereabout. The plunger 5a is then actuated to cause the parts of the apparatus to move to the position shown in 5 and the bolt 98 is then adjusted to cause the arm 8| to assume a position such that the latch member 50, pivoting thereabout by an increase in temperature at the end of tube III, releases the boss It at a temperature at which it is desired to terminate operation of the heater H at a particular setting of the cam 86. This temperature is higher than the cutout temperature of the motor M and may fall within a range of from to 200 F., for example.

The cam 83 is so shaped that the arm 8| is positioned to cause the latch member 50 to release boss 58 at predetermined temperatures according to the angular adjustment thereof by the knob 52. it will be seen that this adjustment in no wise alters the operation of the apparatus to afiect the motor cutout temperature, and provides a control over the degree of dryness of the clothes. Accordingly, the knob may have an index member thereon to cooperate with .a dial for indicating the degree of drying according to the knob setting.

Preferably, the cam has a recess I08 therein which causes the lever 82 to be moved to a position in which the arm SI prevents the member from moving over either of the bosses I8, 19, as shown in Fig. 8, and when the cam is set in this position, which is termed the oif position, the switch members I9, 2| cannot be held in closed position by the latch member 60. In the event the knob is turned to the oif position during a clothes drying cycle, the member 60 is actuated to release both bosses 18, 19 and cause both the heater and motor circuits to be opened.

While the control apparatus shown is operated by a thermally responsive device, any suitable power mechanism, such as a clock, having a reciprocating movement similar to that described with reference to the plunger 106 could be employed.

It is apparent that the objects enumerated as well as others have been achieved by the invention and that a relatively inexpensive, accurate and easily adjusted control apparatus has been provided which is especially useful in controlling circuits sequentially, such as the heater and motor control circuits of a domestic clothes drier.

While but one form of the invention has been described it is apparent that other forms, modifications, and adaptations may be made without departing from the scope of the claims which follow.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A control apparatus comprising in combination, two spaced control members each having abutment means thereon, an element engageable with said abutment means of said members simultaneously to retain said members in one control position, means to move said control members to said one control position, means supporting said element for rotary movement in a plane to move from registration with said abutment means and release said control members for movement to second control positions, and means to move said element about a pivotal axis extendingv transversely of said plane and located to retain said element in engagement with one of said abutment means While another portion of said element moves out of registration with the abutment means of the other of said control members.

2. A control apparatus comprising in combination, two spaced control members each having abutment means thereon, an element engageable with said abutment means of said members simultaneously to latch said members in one control position, means to move said control members to said one control position, means supporting said element for rotary movement in a plane to move from registration with said abutment means and release said control members for movement to second control positions, means to move said element about a pivotal axis extending transversely of said plane and adjacent to the abutment means on one of said members to retain a part of said element in engagement with the last mentioned abutment means while moving said element out of registration with the abutment means of the other of said control members, and means to move said element about a second pivotal axis to swing said part of said element out of registration with the abutment means of said one member.

3. A control apparatus comprising in combination, two spaced control members each having abutment means thereon, an element engageable with said abutment means of said members simultaneously to retain said members in one control position, means to move said control members to said one control position, means supporting said element for rotary movement in a plane to move from registration with said abutment means and release said control members for movement to second control positions, means to move said element supporting means in a direction parallel to said plane, and a stop adjacent to the abutment means of one of said members and engaged by said element to retain a part of said element in engagement with the last mentioned abutment means and cause said element to be swung about said stop and out of registration with the abutment means of the other of said control members when said element supporting means is moved in one direction.

i. A control apparatus comprising in combination, two spaced control members each having abutment means thereon, an element engageable with said abutment means of said members simultaneously to retain said members in one control position, means to move said control members to said one control position, means supporting said element for rotary movement in a plane to move from registration with said abutment means and release said control members for movement to second control positions, means to move said element supporting means in a direction parallel to said plane, a stop adjacent to the abutment means of one of said members and engaged by said element to retain a part of said element in engagement with the last mentioned abutment means and cause said element to be swung about said stop and out of registration with the abutment means of the other of said control members when said element supporting means is moved in one direction, and means to adjustably position said stop relative to said abutment means.

5. A control apparatus comprising in combination, two spaced control members each having abutment means thereon, an element engageable with said abutment means of said members simultaneously to retain said members in one control position, means to move said control members to said one control position, means supporting said element for rotary movement in a plane to move from registration with said abutment means and release said control members for movement to second control positions, means to move said element supporting means in a direction parallel to said plane, a stop adjacent to the abutment means of one of said members and engaged by said element to retain a part of said element in engagement with the last mentioned abutment means and cause said element to be swung about said stop and out of registration with the abutment means of the other of said control members when said element supporting means is moved in one direction, and means to adjustably position said stop relative to said abutment means and in the direction of movement of said element supporting means.

6. A control apparatus comprising in combination, two spaced control members each having abutment means thereon, an element engageable with said abutment means of said members simultaneously to retain said members in one control position, means to move said control members to said one control position, means supporting said element for rotary movement in a plane to move from registration with said abutment means and release said control members for movement to second control positions, meansto move said element supporting means in opposite directions parallelto said plane, a stop adapted to be engaged by said element and cause said element to be pivoted about an axis extending adjacent to the abutment means on one of said members to retain a portion of said element in engagement with the last mentioned abutment means while moving another portion of said element out of registration with the abutment :9 meensof theother of =sa' d control members during movement of said element supporting means in one direction, and means engaged by said other portion of said element to form a pivot about which said element is swung to move the first'mentionedportion thereof from engagement with the abutmem means on said one member during movement of said element supporting means in the opposite direction.

'7. A control apparatus comprising incombination, two spaced control members each having abutmentmeans thereon, a'lever engageable adjacent to opposite ends thereof with said abutment means of said members simultaneously to retain said members in one control "position, means to movesaid control members to said one control position, means pivotally supporting said lever-for movementin a plane tomove from registration with said abutment means and release said control members for movement to second control positions, a temperature responsive device operative to move said lever supporting means in one direction in response to an increase in temperature and in the opposite direction in response to a decrease in temperature, and a stop engaged by said lever and operable to form a pivot about which said lever is moved during movement of said lever supporting means in one direction, the axis of said pivot being adjacent to one end of said lever to cause said one end to I remain in engagement with the abutment means engaged thereby and swing the other end of said lever from engagement with the abutment means engageable thereby.

8. A control apparatus comprising in combination, two spaced control members each having abutment means thereon, a lever engageable adjacent to opposite ends thereof with said abutment means of said members simultaneously to retain said members in one control position, means to move said control members to said one control position, means pivotally supporting said lever for movement in a plane to move from registration with said abutment means and release said control members for movement to second control positions, a temperature responsive device operative to move said lever supporting means in one direction in response to an increase in temperature and in the opposite direction in response to a decrease in temperature, a stop engaged by said lever and operable to form a pivot about which said lever is moved during n vement of said lever supporting means in one direction, the axis of said pivot being adjacent to one end of said lever to cause said one end to remain in engagement with the abutment means engaged thereby and swing the other end of said lever from engagement with the abutment means engageable thereby, and means to adjustably position said step in the direction of movement of said lever supporting means.

A control apparatus comprising combination, two spaced switch members normally biased toward one position respectively and each having a boss thereon, a lever movable in a plane to engage the outer surfaces of said bosses simultaneously to restrain moveme t of said members to one position, means to move said control members to said one control position, pivotal means supporting said lever for rotation in said plane whereby said lever may be moved from engagement with the outer faces of the respec tive bosses to release said switch members, said pivotal means being movable in a direction parallel to said plane, and stop means engageable by=saidlever to form a pivot to cause said lever to rotate on an axis extending transversely of said plane and adjacent to the boss on one of said switch members to prevent movement of said lever from engagement with the outer surface of the last mentioned boss and to cause said lever to swing from engagement with the outer surface of the boss on the other of said switch members.

10. A control apparatus comprising in combination, two spaced switch members normally biased toward one position respectively and each having a'boss thereon, a lever movable in a plane to engagethe outer surfaces of said bosses simultaneously to restrain movement of said members 'to said one position, means to move said control members to said one control position, pivotal means supporting said lever for rotation in said plane whereby said lever may be moved from engagement with the respective bosses, said pivotal means being movable in a direction parallel tosaidplane, stop means engaged by said'lever during movement of said pivotal means in one direction to form a pivot having its axis extending transversely of said plane and adjacent to the boss on one of said switch members to prevent movement of said lever from engagement with the last mentioned boss and to cause said lever to swing from engagement with the boss on the other of said switch members, said lever engaging a side of the second mentioned boss during movement of said pivotal means in a direction opposite to said one direction to cause said lever to swing from said stop means and out of engagement with the first mentioned boss, and means to move said pivotal means in opposite directions.

11. A control apparatus comprising in combination, a frame, a pair of leaf springs spaced from one another and each having a contact, a pair of contacts adapted to be engaged by the contacts of the respective leaf springs when said leaf springs are flexed in one direction, a manually operable member for flexing said leaf springs in said one direction, shoulder means on each of said leaf springs, a latch member, a lever pivoted to said frame and pivotally supporting said latch member for movement about an axis swingable in a plane intermediate said leaf springs and extending parallel to the direction of flexing of said leaf springs, said latch member adapted to be rotated about said axis to move into engagement with said shoulder means simultaneously, a spring urging said latch member about said axis, an arm pivoted to frame and having a part thereof adapted to be engaged by said latch member to cause said latch member to pivot thereabout and move from one of said shoulder means when said member is moved by said lever in one direction and to hold a part of said latch member in engagement with the other of said shoulder means, and means to move said lever.

12. A control apparatus comprising in combi nation, a frame, a pair of leaf springs spaced from one another and each having a contact, a pair of contact adapted to be engaged by the contacts of the respective leaf springs when said leaf springs are flexed in one direction, a manually operable member for flexing said leaf springs in said one direction, shoulder means on each of said leaf springs, a latch member, a lever pivoted to said frame and pivotally supporting said latch member for movement about an axis swingable in a plane intermediate said leaf spring and extending parallel to the direction of flexing of said leaf springs, said latch mem ber adapted to be rotated about said axis to move into engagement with said shoulder means simultaneously, a spring urging said latch mem her about said axis, an arm pivoted to said frame and having a part thereof adapted to be engaged by said latch member to cause said latch member to pivot thereabout and move from one of said shoulder means when said member is moved by said lever in one direction and to hold a part of said latch member in engagement with the other of said shoulder means, and means to move said lever in opposite directions, said latch member adapted to engage the side of the first mentioned shoulder means and pivot thereabout during movement of said latch member by said lever in the opposite direction to cause said latch to move from said arm and said other shoulder means.

13. A control apparatus comprising in combination, two spaced control members each having abutment means thereon and normally biased toward one control position, an element engageable with said abutment means of said members simultaneously to retain said members in a second control position, means supporting said element for rotary movement in a plane to move from registration with said abutment means and release said control members for movement to said one control position, means to move said element about a pivotal axis extending transversely of said plane and located to retain said element in engagement with one of said abutment means while another portion of said element moves out of registration with the abutment means of the other of said control members, manually operable means to move said control members to said second control position, and means urging said element to a position to engage said abutment means when said control members are moved to said second control position. FREDERICK A. GREENAWALT.

No references cited. 

